Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday pointed out that the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) has become the center of contemporary geopolitics. “It is no longer passive; it has become an area of competition and cooperation,” Singh said while addressing the Naval Commanders’ Conference underway here today.
Calling Operation Sindoor a symbol of India’s will power and capability, he said it was a message to the world that we’re always ready to respond to every challenge.
While commending the Indian Navy for creating a deterrent posture that forced Pakistan to remain in the harbour or near its coast, Singh said that the world witnessed the operational readiness, professional capability and strength of the Navy’s during the operation. He described the Indian Navy’s presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) as a matter of “comfort for the friendly nations” and “discomfort for those who seek to destabilise the region”.
“The Indian Navy, through its multi-dimensional capabilities, has played a leadership role in the region. In the last six months, our ships, submarines and Naval aircraft have been deployed at an unprecedented scale. In addition, our Navy has provided safe passage to approximately 335 merchant vessels, equaling approx. 1.2 million metric tons of cargo and a trade value of $5.6 billion. This is the proof that India has now become a trusted and capable partner in the global maritime economy,” said the defence minister.
Dubbing the present-day warfare as technology and intelligence-based, the Union minister said that maritime preparedness is no longer only about ships or submarines, it is based on technology-driven, network-centric, and autonomous systems. “We need to protect ourselves from our adversaries’ modern technologies, while enhancing our capabilities in these areas. We have the potential and the capabilities. We’re manufacturing our equipment on our own soil.” he said.
“No nation can win a war solely with equipment and warships. Technology gives us an edge, but geography, deception, timing, and human judgment must always be factored into the tactical framework. Fleet-size and modernisation is important, but tactically utilising platforms is equally crucial. Agility and adaptability are essential in planning,” he said.
Stating that Indian Navy is not only engaged in defence production, but also contributing significantly to nation-building, Singh highlighted Navy’s self-reliance, innovation, and industrial development. “With every ship and submarine built, a new job is created; with every engine, a new skill is created, and with every indigenous system, India’s dependency is decreasing. Project 17A ships, which have more than 75 percent indigenous content, have created approximately 1.27 lakh jobs in shipyards like MDL and GRSE. It is proof that every Navy project is linked to security as well as the economy and youth employment,” he stated.
“The Navy has made several innovations towards self-reliance in its aviation sector. Projects such as the Multi-role Maritime Reconnaissance Aircraft, Utility Helicopters, Twin-engine Deck Fighters, and Naval Shipborne Unmanned Aerial Systems are giving a new direction to our domestic aviation industry. This is not only filling critical capability gaps but also strengthening self-reliance.” he added.
The defence minister underlined the need to advance the Naval strategy and adapt thinking in line with the rapidly evolving global scenario. He stated that efforts should focus on three key areas, capability, people, and partnerships, explaining that capability referred to technology and strength, people to sailors and their families, and partnerships to collaboration with industries, academia, and international allies. He added that when these three elements come together, the Navy would become an even more reliable and powerful force.